They are also the show-stopping centrepiece of the £43 million Helix project to regenerate the Forth and Clyde Canal.

Midway between Scotland two largest cities, Falkirk has become one of the country’s most popular locations in its own right.

It’s home to the Falkirk Wheel, and new figures reveal over 5.5 million people have visited the world’s only rotating boat-lift since it opened over a decade ago.

A remarkable feat of modern engineering, it links the Union Canal to the Forth and Clyde Canal 35m below.

Findlay Withers, Manager of The Falkirk Wheel, said: “It’s been a brilliant summer at the Wheel so far, with almost 65,000 visitors taking a trip on the world’s only rotating boat lift.

“This great result shows that, while she may be over a decade old, The Falkirk Wheel is still a key tourism attraction in Scotland.

“The launch of the nearby Helix and the Kelpies means the area has even more to offer and I’d urge anyone who has never witnessed this marvel of modern engineering in action to come along and see why the Wheel is so popular for themselves.”

Take a look at our picture gallery above for reasons to visit Falkirk.